An error corrected
It’s difficult to remember how hot and dry last summer was when we are still knee deep in snow, dodging puddles and fearing the rivers and creeks will crest higher than their banks. But area farmers who suffered substantial crop damage know all too well how devastating the drought was. And until recently it appeared that Fayette and Greene farmers were ineligible for disaster aid. A simple clerical error made on a form submitted by the local Farm Service Agency to the U.S. Department of Agriculture stood in the way of farmers’ eligibility for disaster assistance and low-interest emergency loans.
It isn’t easy to rectify errors once they are delivered into hands wrapped with bureaucratic red tape. In fact the effort to bring the farmers aid stopped just short of an act of Congress. Both Pennsylvania senators along with U.S. Rep. John Murtha and former Gov. Mark Schweiker repeatedly urged the USDA to reconsider as the farmers were not at fault and they desperately needed the help.
Now that the error is corrected and the pressure is eased for farmers, attention must be turned to making sure this doesn’t happen again. And a rain dance at the appropriate time wouldn’t hurt.